Tube cap



R. D. MOORE May 5, 1936.

Filed NOV. 9, 1934' nain" EY Aa I ATTORNEY 'Patented May 5, 10936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFlc 1 Claim.

This invention relates to caps for collapsible tubes and its generalobject is to provide a closure in the form of a cap for automaticallydispensing the contents of a tube, in that when 5 pressure is applied tothe tube the closure auto.-

matically opens to allow the contents to be expelled therefrom and whenthe pressure is relieved it closes; therefore, the contents are retainedfree from exposure and in a clean and io sanitary condition, when thetube is not in use.

A further object ci' the invention is to provide a closure that isautomatic in its action, yet can be held and retained closed even thoughpres-l sure is applied to the tube; therefore, fear of l5 leakage orWaste or the contents is eliminated, when the tube is packed forshipping or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure cap oi thecharacter set forth, that allows for the complete removal of thecontents of the tube, is simplein construction, inexpen sive tomanufacture, can be applied to the necks of all tubes now in commercialuse, and is extremely eicient in operation and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinater fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a iront elevation showing the application of my closure to atube of the usual construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing the closure in section andapplied to a tube having a relatively large neck, withthe parts of theclosure in operative position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my closure.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the closure vapplied to a tubehaving a relatively small neck with an adapter for the latter.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the letter A indicates the body ofthe usual collapsible tube and the tube as shown in Figure 2 includes arelatively large neck B, while that shown in Figure 4 is provided with arelatively small neck C, in order to illustrate that my closure can beassociated with collapsible tubes having necks of various sizes; and,notwithstanding the fact that the closure is of the same size in everyrespect, I may employ an adapter which, for

distinction, is indicated by the numeral i These adapters v,havethreaded bores 2 extending centrally therethrough, and of course it willbe understood that the bores of the adapters vary in diameter to fitvarious sizes of necks, to be 5 threadedly-mounted thereon as clearlyshown in Figure 4. The outer surfaces oi the adapters are screw threadedto thrcadedly `receive my closure.

The closure as shown is in the form of a cap lo and includes a skirt 3that provides the body therefor, and the skirt or body is interiorlythreaded to be threadedly received on the neck B or on an adapter suchas indicated by the reference numeral i. The skirt is provided with anis outwardly rounded annular bead that is serrated in order tofacilitate the application and removal of the closure as will beapparent.

Fromv the skirt 3 the closure is somewhat restricted to provide an upperhollow portion 5 that 20 has arranged laterally therein an opening inthe form of a slot t and which communicates with the interior thereof soas to act as an outlet opening for dispensing the contents of the tubetherefrom in a manner which will be pres- 25 4ently apparent.

The upper hollow portion is provided with a substantially dome shapedtop 'i having a central opening extending therethrough for the purposeof receiving a plunger rod t for slidable movement therein and which 30has a knob on its outer end to limit its inward movement, while itsinner end is i'lxed to a plunger or piston S, the latter being in theform of a concave-convex disk oi a size to nt the portion t for slidablemovement therein. 35

Surrounding the plunger rod 8 for disposal between the piston t] and thetop l is a coil spring l0 which tends to move the piston 9 inwardly ofthe hollow portion as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and the springi0 is of the telescopic type, so that its coils t within each other asshown, in order to take up minimum space. The piston 9 is arranged tocontrol the outlet opening 5 and is normally disposed inwardly beyond 45the opening as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. However, when pressureis applied to the body A of the tube, the contents of the latter will beforced against the plunger or piston 9 and move the same against thepressure of the spring l0 50 to the full line position of Figure 2, oroutwardly beyond the outlet opening, so as to allow the contents of thetube to pass through the latter in ribbon formation, as clearly shown inFigure 2. When the pressure is relieved, the coil spring will 55 Theplunger rod I performs a dual function, v

namely, it acts to guide the plunger or piston l in its movement and itcan be used to manually actuate the piston in the event it becomesnecessary to do so. Again, the plunger rod performs another function,namely, to prevent the piston or plunger from being moved to openposition in the event accidental pressure is applied to the body A ofthe tube when the latter is packed for4 shipping or the like. as it willbe obvious that an obstruction can be disposed against the outer end ofthe plunger rod to prevent outward movement thereof, such as forinstance a block or the like arranged within a container for the tube,or the top of the container can contact the outer end of the plirger aswill be apparent, with the result that the contents of the tube willremain intact until it reaches the user.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, providedthat such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A closure for a collapsible tube comprising a body having a dome shapedtop and an internally threaded cylindrical bore adapted for detachableconnection to the neck of the tube, a serrated bead exteriorly of thebody, a restricted hollow portion formed on the body between the top andthreaded portion and having a laterally disposed slot therein adjacentthe top to provide an outlet opening, a concave-convex disk-like plungermounted for slidable movement in the hollow portion for controlling theopening, a plunger rod extending through the top and connected with theplunger to guide and manually actuate the same, a telescoping coilspring surrounding the plunger rod between said top and plunger andnormally holding the plunger in closed position, said plunger beingadapted to be acted upon by the contents of the tube when pressure isapplied to the latter for moving the plunger to open position to ejectthe contents through the outlet opening.

- RICHARD D. MOORE.

